Australian travel company offers new tours to Iran

DONE Bali? Fed up with Fiji? Why not try a trip to Iran? An Australian tour company has begun offering tours there.

Angela Saurine National Travel Reporter

News Corp AustraliaMay 29, 20136:27am

Tourists at Persepolis, the palace city of Persian king Darius I, in Iran. Picture: Stan ClossSource:Supplied

COULD Iran be the new hot spot for Australian travellers?

Australian tour company Destination International has begun offering tours to the politically-troubled country for intrepid travellers.

It will run two 15-day 'Iran - Ancient Persia' tours this year and two next year.

Guests on the tours will get to visit mosques, palaces and ancient temples and tombs, explore bazaars and listen to traditional music.

They may also have the chance to try Iranian caviar from the Caspian Sea, which "has an ideal environment for sturgeon fish".

"Iranian caviar has an exquisite appearance, delicious taste and pleasant fragrance with gleaming roes, usually in light grey, golden brown and sometimes in golden and black colours,'' the brochure states.

Destination International travel consultant Russ Masterton said he had been pleasantly surprised by people's reaction since the tours went on sale, with 15 people booked on the first tour so far.

"Their economy isn't that good at the moment and they're lovely people and they want tourists there,'' he said.

"They have the most amazing architecture there, mosques and ancient traditional culture.

"The local company we're dealing with in Tehran is organising accommodation that is basically four star.

"It is one of those destinations that you need a letter from a local tour operator and once you have that the consulate will issue a visa.''

About 98.5 per cent of the country's population is Muslim and Destinational International advises female tourists should cover all parts of their body except their hands, feet and face and wear a headscarf.